Bastille Day, in France and its overseas départements and territories, holiday marking the anniversary of the fall on July 14, 1789, of the Bastille, in Paris. Originally built as a medieval fortress, the Bastille eventually came to be used as a state prison. Political prisoners were often held there, as were citizens detained by the authorities for trial. Some prisoners were held on the direct order of the king, from which there was no appeal. Although by the late 18th century it was little used and was scheduled to be demolished, the Bastille had come to symbolize the harsh rule of the Bourbon monarchy. During the unrest of 1789, on July 14 a mob approached the Bastille to demand the arms and ammunition stored there, and, when the forces guarding the structure resisted, the attackers captured the prison, releasing the seven prisoners held there. The taking of the Bastille signaled the beginning of the French Revolution, and it thus became a symbol of the end of the ancien régime.

Alpha Jets of the French Patrol trailing the national colours over the Champs-Élysées …

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, undated coloured engraving.

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July 14, often called la fête nationale in France, became an official holiday in 1880. From the beginning, speeches, military parades, and fireworks, along with public revelry, were part of the celebration. The slogan “Vive le 14 juillet!” (“Long live the 14th of July!”) has continued to be associated with the day. The holiday came to be celebrated in the former French colonies and is observed in those places maintaining links to France. French Polynesia especially came to be known for its adaptation of the holiday to its own culture, with singing, dancing, and drumming performances and competitions held throughout the month of July. In addition, Francophiles worldwide have taken up the observance of Bastille Day, celebrating with dinners of French cuisine, for example, or with concerts of French music.

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country of northwestern Europe. Historically and culturally among the most important nations in the Western world, France has also played a highly significant role in international affairs, with former colonies in every corner of the globe. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,...

city and capital of France, located in the north-central part of the country. People were living on the site of the present-day city, located along the Seine River some 233 miles (375 km) upstream from the river’s mouth on the English Channel (La Manche), by about 7600 bce. The modern city...

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The French celebrate their freedom each year on July 14. On that day in 1789 an angry mob attacked the Bastille, a state prison in Paris. The mob associated the prison with the harsh rule of the king of France. The attack is therefore considered the beginning of the French Revolution, which forced the king to give up control of the country. French people celebrate the day much as Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, with parades, speeches, and fireworks.

Since 1880, Bastille Day has been celebrated annually on July 14 as the national independence festival of France. The date commemorates the capture of the Bastille, a state prison in Paris that fell to a mob on July 14, 1789, signaling the end of the reign of Louis XVI and the beginning of the French Revolution. The holiday is celebrated with parades, speeches, and fireworks in France as well as many other countries.